I talked with many Russians. Most of the elite is xenophobic and chauvinistic, behind a thin cultured veneer. This attitude evolved due to Russia evolving as an empire, and is deeply embedded by centuries of conditioning.

This happens in any empire - some Greeks, Italians, Serbians, etc. still have remnants of imperial arrogance, despite their empires long gone.

Putin rose in popularity when he suppressed and slaughtered the rebellious colony of Chechnya. However likeable individual Russians are, the "imperial boomerang" will hit them again and again, unless their ideal of mighty empire is finally humbled. They are going to suppress other countries, since this is the very nature of an empire.